Problem

Many individuals in remote locations, especially those without internet access or smartphones, face financial exclusion as they cannot benefit from modern banking services. Recognizing this challenge, Halo Financial Services aimed to bridge the gap by providing banking and wealth management services to the financially excluded. The challenge was to create a solution that catered to users in remote areas with low literacy levels and no internet access.

Solution

Halo Direct, a groundbreaking initiative by Halo Financial Services, targeted financially excluded users by leveraging a distributed agent network. The app empowered banking agents to assist customers in remote locations without internet access or smartphones. Through this innovative approach, users with low literacy levels gained access to social banking and wealth management services offered by Halo, creating financial inclusion for underserved communities.

Learn about Halo Direct here

My Involvement

As Senior Product Manager

Conducted extensive research to understand the financial services needs of financially excluded people in remote underdeveloped rural areas, and to ascertain how they currently so these problems.
Engaged widely with a network of banking agents in remote areas to understand their existing mode of delivery.
Analysed data from user research and anchored brainstorming sessions with a company-wide cross-functional team- including sales, CX, Operations, Business development, etc.
Reviewed potential solutions for feasibility and regulatory compliance and documented requirements and scope for the delivery of an MVP.
Developed a roadmap for development and hypothesis validation.
Campaigned for and obtained stakeholder buy-in- mostly management
Led an agile team towards the design, development and testing of the app- iterated quickly and incorporated feedback from multiple engagement sessions with the potential user group.
Ensured the alignment of the product with regulatory requirements for financial inclusion initiatives.

Impact

Successfully validated the hypotheses that birthed the Halo Direct initiative, to provide financial services to previously excluded users.
Enabled banking agents to assist customers in remote areas, fostering financial inclusion.
Improved accessibility for users with low literacy levels, enhancing their ability to benefit from banking services.

Skills

Jobs-to-be-done
Market Research
Formulating Hypothesis
Stakeholder Engagement
Rapid Prototyping
Agile Project Management
Story Telling
Regulatory Compliance

Halo Direct- Agency Banking App